Tailgate Talk: Machinery Milestones

Machinery Milestones

Every day, farm equipment rolls off the production lines. But it’s not every day that manufacturers reach a significant milestone, as two companies did in 2010.

On May 7, 2010, the 500,00th combine was produced at John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Ill. This factory has been in service for almost 100 years and has manufactured self-propelled combines for more than 60 years. Greg Briggs, who farms about 4,000 acres near Cisco, Ill., with his father, Roger, and his brother, Randall, purchased the special 9870 STS combine. On the front of the machine is a plaque that indicates its spot in John Deere history.

John Deere built another milestone machine on Sept. 22: the 500,000th Gator utility vehicle. The company built its first utility vehicle in 1987 and launched the Gator series in 1993.

In early 2010, Claas delivered its 1,000th Xerion tractor. The farmer to receive the special machine, which was painted white to mark the occasion, farms approximately 60 miles north of the company’s Harsewinkel, Germany, headquarters and factory.

As more machines have the fluids topped off and decals pressed on, there’s sure to be more milestones coming down the assembly line.

Stat Rack

The largest machines by category available in the U.S. ag market.

600 hpRated engine hp for the Case IH Steiger 600 HD and New Holland T9.670, the most powerful
four-wheel-drive tractors